Ravens' Bernard Pollard: 'We've [expletive] this thing away'

Pictures of the Ravens game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

Aaron WilsonThe Baltimore Sun

Expressing frustration over the Ravens' three-game losing streak, veteran strong safety Bernard Pollard acknowledged how the reigning AFC North champions have squandered their once-commanding lead in the division.

Pollard indicated that despite the Ravens having already secured a playoff berth, their postseason status might be irrelevant if they don't upgrade their play immediately.

"We got to make a freaking run," Pollard said. "For us, man, we dug a hole. We can't complain. We did it. We [expletive] this thing away. We [expletive] it away. As a team, we got to come together and we got to fix it. Everybody is talking about, 'What happened?' Well, what happened is us.

"We are the problem. We have to fix this issue. Everybody is talking about, 'Well, you're in the playoffs,' Well, who cares? Because the way we've played, who cares about the playoffs? If we don't fix it, that's going to carry over to the playoffs. And we don't want that to happen. We have to come together."

Pollard missed the Ravens' 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos with an aggravated rib injury. He first sustained the injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second game of the season.

"I feel good, but it comes down to the point of can I go out there and help my team with hitting people," Pollard said. "People get hurt week in and week out. No complaints coming from this way. It's a consequence of playing the game. You're going to get banged up. Our body is our company. If we can't play right and contribute and help our team win, then there's no reason for us to be out there. We're going to do everything we can to be ready to go."

Pollard acknowledged that he wasn't around the training complex last week while visiting doctors.

"I had to see some doctors, had to do some things," Pollard said. "That's just the name of the game."

He said not playing was a combination of doctors' opinions and his call to take the week off to try to get healthy.

"It's one of those things where we have to be smart," Pollard said. "For us as athletes, when your body isn't responding, but when the body says, 'Shut up, sit down, rest,' that's what you got to do. "

The Ravens are dealing with multiple injury situations, including wide receiver Torrey Smith and running back Bernard Pierce having concussions, middle linebacker Ray Lewis still on the injured-reserve-designated to return list, inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe having a sprained right ankle that has sidelined him for the past two games and middle linebacker Jameel McClain being declared out for the remainder of the season with a spinal cord contusion.

"We are a banged-up team," Pollard said. "This is a freaking banged-up team on both sides of the ball. This is the name of the game. I think for us we've got to be good."